There is no more polarizing Topps product that exists. Triple Threads baseball is it. Arguably, it has even been lapped by its football sister product in recent years, and why this has happened is completely beyond my understanding. I hate Triple Threads baseball with every fiber of my being, and though I dont think 2015 looks as bad as 2014 and 2013, it is still really fucking terrible. Even with Ichiro autographed content, im not even close to ready to say anything good about this product as a whole.

Here are some of the hits that have been posted. Notice the format, notice the design, notice what these cards are all about:

2015 Triple Threads Frank Thomas Auto Triple Relic – I dont get it.

2015 Triple Threads Reggie Jackson Auto Triple Relic – I dont get it.

2015 Triple Threads Jorge Soler Triple Relic – I get it, but its not really that clever.

2015 Triple Threads Hunter Pence Triple Relic – Most people wont get it.

2015 Triple Threads Kole Calhoun Auto Triple Relic – I dont get it.

2015 Triple Threads Bryce Harper Auto Triple Relic – Still waiting for them to do “Clown Question.” (

EDIT: looks like they did already. (H/T @yanksandbeans)

These are less about the gimmick and more about creating a super premium card. Albeit in a mildly successful way:

2015 Triple Threads Evan Longoria Lettermen Booklet

2015 Triple Threads Tim Hudson Full All Star Logo Triple Booklet 1/1

I love a lot of what Topps does. Putting focus on on card autographs, great looking design work, and even taking risks is something that they do very well. A set like Triple Threads is something I put on Panini’s level, as each part of the baseball product seems to get worse with age. It has now been around for a decade, and its a decade Topps should all beg us to forget.

You know, the product year over year is so similar, I can literally just copy and paste my review from the last few years and it would apply in 2015. In fact, lets take a look.

“The worst part about this set is the fact that it literally caters to the lowest common denominator of the hobby. Oversized relics, sticker autos, and terrible design.””

Yup, sounds about right for 2015.

“Regardless of the situations that Triple Threads never seems to fix, these cards just tend to get dumber by the moment. Really take a second to read through some of the die cut words on the card. If you have to google it to understand what the fuck is going on, the line has already been crossed.”

Seems to be right on par.

All of what was said above is back for what seems like the 508th year, and I doubt that it will be changing any time soon. This is also one of the only Topps products served up in an insane 18 box master case, which for a premium product, should spell certain death. Of course, it just adds fuel to the fire to chase the ever popular 1/1s that have spread like a virus over the hobby as a whole. Back in 2006, 1/1s were novel and special, but thanks to the need to add contrived scarcity, they are relatively common these days.

Going back to the monotony of the yearly release of this set, its clear that someone at Topps DOES NOT want this product to change at all. Where Football has made some changes to make the set a bit more interesting, it seems like Baseball has lagged FAAAAR behind. I get that there is an overpopulation of products, but high end in baseball doesnt necessarily fall into the same boat. I have never seen a product so full of stickers and junk become so popular, just because some lame ass play on words is haphazardly carved into the card’s front.

Carry on, I am fully aware that my ranting does nothing to curb the thirst people have for this product, including the desire to fight to the death against anyone that doesnt like it.